​A Wayne resident earned gold at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Samantha Ramirez, a 25-year-old swimmer who has Down syndrome, captured two gold medals and one bronze at the competition held in Minnesota at the end of June. Ramirez earned gold in both the 4×25 yard freestyle relay and the 25-yard backstroke, while taking bronze in the 50-yard butterfly event.
“I feel incredibly proud of myself; I feel like a champion,” Ramirez said. “I’m proud of my teammates and I’m feeling inspired.” Ramirez received her medals after her races at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Her 50-yard butterfly time was 51.50 seconds and her 25-yard backstroke time was 27.05 seconds. Linda Barnes, the assistant coach of the Cyclones—the swim team for adults with special needs that Ramirez swims for—noted that butterfly and backstroke are her strongest events. “It’s a joy to watch her,” Barnes commented. “It’s wonderful to see how she always strives to improve and how she supports others with great sportsmanship.”
Ramirez said the butterfly and backstroke are her favorite events, and she also loves diving into the water. Barnes added that Ramirez’s qualifying times for the 2026 Games were 25.03 seconds in the 25-meter backstroke and 23.32 seconds in the 25-meter butterfly. “Competitions are like my whole life,” Ramirez explained. “It’s been an amazing experience, and I had a really good time there.”
Participation in the Special Olympics often involves athletes being independent during the event. Although Ramirez’s parents accompanied her to Minnesota, they could not stay with her throughout the competition, which required athletes to manage on their own for a week. Ramirez bonded closely with her teammates, spending a lot of time with them and forming strong friendships.
“I love talking with them,” Ramirez said. “I always share personal things, and I’ve formed a really strong bond with my teammates.” Ramirez’s mother, Cindy, admits she was initially anxious about her daughter traveling alone, but she is incredibly proud of what Ramirez accomplished. Cindy recalled watching Ramirez and her teammates celebrate together after a victory, noting the supportive atmosphere: “Even when they didn’t win, it was absolutely fine. They’d say, ‘We love you,’ and they’d high-five each other.”
Ramirez has spent around a decade competing in swimming, according to her mother, though she has been immersed in the sport from an even younger age. “She’s been in the pool since she was a baby,” Cindy observed. “I don’t even think Sam took formal swimming lessons, to be honest.” Both Cindy and Barnes describe Ramirez as highly goal-oriented, always seeking to improve. “She’s focused on getting better,” Barnes said. “She listens well to coaching and applies what we tell her to do—she gives her best effort.”